Light diffusing ceiling frame

ABSTRACT

A FRAME SUCH AS USED FOR LIGHT DIFFUSING PANELS IS MADE FROM RIGID SECTIONS JOINTED END TO END BY MITER JOINTS WHICH ARE CLAMPED IN ASSEMBLED RELATION BY AN EXTERNAL TENSION BAND, PREFERABLY OF STEEL STRIPPING.

Feb. 23, 1971 {5. PRICE 3,564,794

' LIGHT DIFFUVSING CEILING FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 9, 1968 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1971 E. PRICE 3,564,794

LIGHT DIFFUSING CEILING FRAME Filed Oct. 9. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl G. 6 3a 42 47 Fl G. 7

FIGS

ATTORNEY INVENTOR 4 United States Patent 3,564,794 LIGHT DIFFUSING CEILING FRAME Elmer Price, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Wilson Research Corporation, Erie, Pa., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 766,182 Int. Cl. E04b /55, 5/62 U.S. Cl. 52-223 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is intended to simplify the construction of frames such as used for light diffusing panels by clamping the miter joints between the frame sections by an encircling tension band.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section on line 11 of FIG. 3 through a luminous ceiling panel frame suspended below a ceiling, FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of one of the frame members, FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a luminous ceiling frame, FIG. 4 is an edge view of a portion of the frame containing the steel strip which holds the frame sections together, FIG. 5 is an end view of another frame member, FIG. 6 is an end view of a mid-section stress control lug, FIG. 7 is a side view of a corner stress control lug, FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing how the lugs cooperate with the tension strip to prevent inward bowing of the frame members, and FIG. 9 is an end view of another frame member using the lugs of FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate two of the beams of a framework for supporting luminous ceiling panels. Customarily there are longitudinally and crosswise extending beams intersecting to form a grid of a plurality of window openings of modular sizes such as two feet by four feet, three feet by three feet, etc. For this purpose the beams may be of T-section with vertical flanges 3 suitably suspended a suitable distance below a ceiling 4 by wires 5 and horizontal flanges 6, 7, each supporting an edge of one of the luminous ceiling panels. In the complete suspension there is usually a plurality of rectangular window openings bounded by flanges 6, 7 for receiving and supporting the edges of luminous ceiling panels. The framework is or may be of common construction.

In many instances it is desired that the luminous ceiling panel be supported by a rigid structural frame which in turn is supported by the flanges 6, 7 or other suitable structure. For the particular construction illustrated, such a frame consists of four rigid members 8-, 9, 10, 11 joined end to end by miter joints 12 to form a rectangular frame. The material of the frame members may be any suitable rigid material. Aluminum extrusions which may be anodized to any desired color are a convenient material, particularly when the frame is of a decorative as distinguished from a purely structural nature. FIGS. 1 and 2 show extruded aluminum frame members which are designed to accommodate a wide variety of luminous ceiling panels. At the lower outer edge, the frame has an angle section 13 with a depending flange 14. The section '13 tests on the flanges 6, 7 of the supporting frame while the flange :14 project through the window opening defined by the flanges 6, 7. Above the section 13 is an inwardly and upwardly arched section 15 terminating in an edge 16 which defines the window opening of the frame. The visible surfaces of the flange 14- and of the arch sections 15 may be provided with longitudinal grooves 17 or other suitable surface decoration. The longitudinal grooves are easily formed in the extruding die. At the right side of FIG. 2 is shown one form of luminous ceiling panel supported by the frame which consists of a thin sheet 18 of translucent plastic which is stretched across the window opening of the frame and is held in position by a flexible vinyl bead 19 which is forced into a groove or channel 20 formed by a channel 21 integral with the rear side of the arched section 15. In the assembly, the sheet 18 is stretched across the window opening defined by the edges 16 of the frame and the peripheral edges'are forced into and fastened by beads 19 which are pressed into the grooves 20. At the left side of FIG. 1, there is shown a rigid luminous ceiling panel 22 which rests on a shelf 23 formed by an angle section 24 integral with the upper edge of the outermost flange 25 of the channel 21. The luminous ceiling panels 18 and 22 are merely illustrative of panels which may be supported by the frame. With either panel, the visual effect is that of a luminous panel of light trans mitting or light diffusing material which is framed by the edges 16 of the frame sections and by the decorative surfaces 14, 15.

The construction for holding the frame members in assembled relation consists of a tension band 26 which encircles the frame sections and clamps the miter joints together. The tension band 26 may 'be conveniently made of steel strapping such as used in packaging. Tools are available for wrapping the steel strapping under tension and for securing the ends of the strapping together to make a complete assembly by a joint 27. The tension band 26 fits in an external groove 28 formed by a shoulder 29 and an angle section 30 on the rear side of the arched section 15 of the extrusion. The tension in the band clamps the abutting surfaces of the miter joints 12 together so tightly that an extremely rigid and permanent construction is obtained. The steel band 26 and groove 28 also form a means of accurate and positive register or location for the mitered sections. When the band is tightened, all of the miter joints are simultaneously clamped or fixed together. The tension band may be used with many other frame members and is not limited to the particular frame construction shown.

The frame member of FIG. 5 has a vertical inner section 31 having longitudinal grooves or other surface decoration 32 on the surface which may be exposed when the frame is installed in a ceiling. On the back of the section 31 are outstanding flanges 33, 34- defining a channel. Ribs 35, 36 extend from the flanges 33, 3-4 and converge toward the section 31 and define a T-slot with the stem of the T between the ribs and with the head of the T of semi-dovetail shape. Flanges 37 and 38 extend outwardly from the flanges 33, 34 generally parallel to the section 31 and have surfaces 39 and 40 opposed to surfaces 41 and 42 on the section 31 defining grooves which receive flexible beads similar to the bead 19 for holding sheets of translucent plastic which are stretched across the window opening defined by the frame. Ribs 43, 44 hold the beads in the grooves. The frame members are assembled with mitered joints as shown in FIG. 3 and are held together by a tension member such as the steel strapping 26 used in the FIG. 1-4 frame.

It has been noticed, particularly in the frames of larger sizes, that the tension of the strapping tends to cause the frame members to bow inward intermediate the mitered joints. To overcome this tendency, the frame members are provided with lugs having the T cross section shown in FIG. 6. The lugs are conveniently made of extruded sections having wings 46, 47 at the head of the T respectively receivable in the dovetail grooves between the ribs 35, 36 and the section 31. The lug has a groove 48 adjacent the section 31 for receiving the strapping. On the side of the lug remote from the groove 48, there is similar groove 49 for receiving the strapping. In a rectangular frame there would be four lugs arranged at the mid-section of each of the frame members and there would also be four lugs arranged at each of the corners. In making a corner lug, a notch 50 is cut in the side of a piece 51 which is then bent to the right angle shape necessary to fit over one of the corners.-The function of the lugs is illustrated in FIG. 8 Where one of the lugs at a midsection of one of the frame members is shown at 52 and one of the corner lugs is shown at 53. The tension steel strapping 26 passes through the groove 48 under the mid-section lug 52 and then passes diagonally outward to the corner lug 53 and through the grooves 49 in that lug. As the strap 26 is tensioned, it exerts an outward force on the center section of the frame member counteracting the tendency of the frame to bow inward. As the strap is tightened, the corner lugs 53 have a wedging action bringing the members together at the corners and eliminating the need for accurate jigging to position the members before tightening the strap.

In FIG. 9 is shown a modification of the FIG. 2 frame section in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. On the outer or back surface of the curved section is a vertical wall 54 which cooperates with integral flanges 55, 56 and ribs 57, 58 to provide the T-slot for the lugs having dovetail grooves 59, 60 for receiving the wings 46, 47 of the lugs. An upwardly extending flange 61 on the flange 56 cooperates with the upper extension of the wall 54 to provide the groove 62 for receiving a flexible vinyl head for holding flexible sheet of translucent material in place. An angle extension 63 at the upper edge of the flange 61 serves the same function as the angle extension 24 in FIG. 2 for holding rigid panels. For frames of small dimension which do not have an objectionable tendency to bow inward, the lugs may be omitted and the strapping 26 may be received between the flanges 55 and 56 and bear directly on the wall 54. For larger frames, the lugs may be used as described in connection with FIG. 8 to use the tension in the strapping to counteract the inward bowing tendency of the frame.

What is claimed is:

1. A light diffusing ceiling for use below a light source comprising a supporting framework having supporting surfaces bounding a polygonal opening, a luminous ceiling structure edge supported on said supporting surfaces, said structure comprising a polygonal frame having the side members in end to end relation to form a window opening, adjoining ends of said members being shaped to form miter joints with each other, and a tension band of flexible material encircling the sides of the frame and compressing said adjoining ends of the frame toward each other to fix the miter joints, the lower edges of the side members having supporting structure means resting on said surfaces, the upper edges of the side members having panel supporting means for the edges of a light diffusing panel for the light passing through said window opening, said members having outwardly facing grooves at the corners of the frame member and corner lugs in said grooves beneath the tension band and wedging the members together at the corners.

Z, A light diffusing ceiling for use below a light source comprising a supporting framework having supporting surfaces bounding a polygonal opening, a luminous ceiling structure edge supported on said supporting surfaces, said structure comprising a polygonal frame having side members in end to end relation to form a window opening, the lower edges of the side members having suporting structure means resting on said surfaces, the upperedges of the side members having supporting surfaces for the edges'of a light diffusing panel for the light passing through said opening, adjoining ends of said members being shaped to form miter joints with each other, and a tension band of flexible material encircling the sides of the frame and compressing said adjoining ends of the frame toward each other to fix the miter joints, said frame having band engaging lugs at the mid-section and at the corners of a frame member, the band engaging lug at the mid-section being displaced inward or toward the window opening from a center line connecting the band engaging lugs of the corner whereby the tension in the band tends to pull the mid-section of the frame member outward or toward said center line and to counteract any tendency of the mid-section to bow inward, said frame member having at the mid-section an outwardly facing groove and the lug at the mid-section being inserted in said groove.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which the groove at the mid-section of said frame member is of T section with the head of the T toward the window opening and the lug has outwardly extending wings which engage the head portions of said groove and transfer the outward pull of said band to the mid-section of the frame member.

4. A light diffusing ceiling for use below a light source comprising a supporting framework having supporting surfaces bounding a polygonal opening, a luminous ceiling structure edge supported on said supporting surfaces, members in end to end relation to form a window opening, the lower edges of the side members having supporting structure means resting on said surfaces and flanges inward of said supporting surfaces of the supporting framework and extending downwardly through said polygonal opening, the upper edges of the side members having panel supporting means for the edges of a light diffusing panel for the light passing through said window opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,460,299 8/1969 Wilson 5222 1,264,578 4/1918 Sweeney 52223 2.666,508 1/1954 Nardulli 52656 2,814,078 11/1957 Durr 52656 3,356,403 12/1967 Sak 287189.36H

. FOREIGN PATENTS 207,762 1940 Switzerland 52656 1,304,064 1962 France 52656 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application 1,095,502 Dec. 22, 1960 to Fengler.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

